Distributor for internal combustion engine



Aug. 6, 1968 W KIND ET AL DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 14. 1965 /Nl/ENTORJ United States Patent 3,396,249 DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Wilhelm Kind and Karl-HeinzSchned'er, Sonthofen, Ger- -many, assignors yto Robert Bosch G.m.b.H.,v Stuttgart, Germany Filed Dec. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 513,759 .Y Claims priority, applicatie; 7(rmany, Dec.l 16, 1964,

The portion of the term of the patent Subsequent `to Mar. 1, 1983,4 has 'been disclaimed 10 Claims. (Cl. 20G-#19) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to distributors for internal combustion engines.

Distributors of this type normally include a distributor housing in which an interruptor means is mounted for turning movement.' In addition the distributor assembly 3,396,249 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 rice M ..-2l trical connections area-rranged in such a mannerftosmplify assembly of the various components.

It is also' an objectof thepresent invention to provide astructure of the above type in which the electrical connector means iare'constructed and cooperate with the bracket which carries the capacitor in such a mannerto prevent tilting of the bracket relative to the distributor includes an ignition capacitor connected in parallel with the electrical connection of the interruptor means to a source of primary current. Itis conventional to mount the capacitor at the exterior of the distributor housing so that in this way it is possible to maintain the distributor housing at a minimuml diameter far smaller than would be required if the distributor housing itself housed the capacitor.

In an arrangement of the above type wherein the capacitor is located at the exterior of the distributor housing considerable problems lare created of conveniently connecting the interruptor in the interior of the distributor housing to 'the source of the primary current as well as of providing a parallel electrical connection between the interruptor and the capacitor `which is at the exterior of the distributor housing. 'y

Another problem inherent with distributor arrangements of the aforementioned kind is that when the capacitor is mounted on the housing by means of a bracket, the connection between the bracket and the housing may become loose due to the continued vibrations the distributor housing carried by `the `internal combustion engine is subjected during the running ofthe engine. This loosening of the bracket may lead to a tilting of the same and thereby to loosening of the contact yestablishing an electrical connection between the source of primary current and the interruptor which will detrimentally affect the proper functioning of the distributor.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide for yan inexpensivesimple structure in a distributor for an internal combustion engine of the aforementioned kind which avoids the difficulties an-d problems mentioned above.

I-t is a further object of thepresent invention to provide kau inexpensive land simple structure for establishing electrticalconnectionsbetween the interruptor and the capacitor where the latteris at the exterior of the distributor housing, -as well, as between the interruptor and the source of primary current.

It is an additional object of ,he present invention to provide a construction of Ithe above type where the elechousing should become loosened.

With these objects in view, the distributor accordingto the present invention mainly comprises a distributor housing formed with 1an opening, interruptor means turnably carried by the housing, a plug and socket type connection means having yat least two separable parts, one of which extends with a portion thereof through the opening to the exterior of the housing, first flexible conduct-or means inside the housing and connected at one end thereof to the interruptor means and at the other end -thereof to the other part of the plug and socket type connector means, a capacitor located outside the housing, a bracket xed to the housing iat the exterior thereof carrying the capacitor, in which the portion of the one part of the connector means is constructed and arranged to engage the bracket so that said one part is removably carried by the bracket, and at least one flexible branch con- -ductor means connected `at one end thereof to Ithe-one part of the connector means and at the other end thereof to the capacitor.

Preferably, the distributor includes Ialso a second flexible branch conductor means connected at one end thereof to the one part of the connector `means and adapted to 'be connected at the other end thereof to a source of primary current. The one -of the connector means preferably comprises an insulating body and a metal bar carried by the insulating body and having at least one free end in the rform of a prong projecting beyond the body into the interior of the housing and the other part of the connector means is in the form of a socket removably engaging the prong to be mechanically and electrically connected thereto. The insulating body has preferably an inner portion extending through the opening in the housing and having a cross section substantially equal to that of the opening, and an outer portion located at the exterior of the housing which is formed with a pair of substantially parallel grooves respectively extending from opposite faces of the outer portion of the body into the latter, and the bracket has preferably a projection formed with a cutout open at one end in which the o-uter portion of the body is located with portions of the projection of the bracket to opposite sides of the cutout respectively 1ocated in the grooves.

In this way the bracket which carries the capacitor at the exterior of the housing is secured by the one part of the connector means against tilting and twisting even if the means which fasten the bracket t-o the housing should become loosened due to the vibrations the housing and bracket are subjected to.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be beset understood from the following description o-f specic embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is 'a partially sectioned side view of the distribut-or arrangement according to the present invention; and' FIG. 2 is a partial .perspective view of an arrangement differing slightly from that shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1 of the same, it will be seen that the distributor housing even ifthe means for holding the bracket'on the rientratav according to the present invention mainly comprises a distributor housing in which an interruptor means 17 is turnably mounted. The housing is formed with an opening therethrough and a plug and socket type connection means 11 is provided which has at least two separable parts, one of which extends with a portion thereof through the opening in the housing to the exterior thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the connector means 11 actually has three separable parts and the part extending through the opening of the housing includes an insulating body 12 which carries a metal bar 13 extending through the insulating body 12 and having t-wo free end portions in the form of prongs 14 and 14 projecting inclined to the remainder of the bar 13 beyond opposite ends of the body 12. The other two separable parts of the three part plug and socket type connector means, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, comprises sockets 15 and 15 adapted to removably engage the prongs 14 and 14', respectively, to be mechanically and electrically connected thereto. A flexible conductor 16 connects the socket 15 with the interruptor means 17, whereas a flexible branch to conductor 18 -is connected to the socket 15' at one end, whereas the other end thereof is Iadapted to be connected to the primary windin-g of an ignition coil. The distributor includes further a capacitor 19 which is fastened, for instance by spot welding, to a bracket 20 which in turn is fastened by a screw 21 to the outer surface of the housing 10. 'Ilhe capacitor 19 is connected in parallel to the interruptor 17 by means of 'a flexible branch conductor 23 the end 22 of which is connected, for instance by soldering, to the metal bar 13 of the connector 11.

While in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the connector means 11 has three separable parts, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the part of the connector means 11 which is adapted to extend through the opening in the housing, not shown in FIG. 2, has a metal bar 13 which has only one free end 24 in the form of a prong projecting beyond one end of the insulating body 12 and adapted to 'be connected to the socket 15 at the end ofthe flexible conductor 16, while the flexible branch conductor 18 as well as the branch conductor 23 are xedly connected, for instance by soldering, to the other end of the bar 13' and the insulating body 12 surrounds the ends of the flexible conductors 18 and 23 which are 'allxed to the bar 13. In both arrangements the insulating body 12 insulates the metal bar 13, or 13r from the housing 10 and in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 the insulating body protects also the ends of the flexible conductors 18 and 23- from damage or dirt.

In both embodiments, 'and best shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 20 is provided with an upwardly extending projection I25 formed with a rectangular cutout 26 open at the top and the insulating body 12 has an inner portion of a cross section substantially equal to that of the opening formed in the housing and an outer portion formed with a pair of substantially parallel grooves 27 which respectively extend from opposite faces of the outer portion of the body 12 into the latter. Asis evident from FIG. 2, the p0rtion of the insulating body 12 between the grooves 27 may be inserted into the cutout 26 so that the portions of the projection 25 on opposite sides of the cutout 26 are respectively located in the grooves 27 with the side faces of the cutout snugly engaging the bott-om faces of the grooves 27, respectively. In the assembled position as shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 20y of the capacitor 19 is thereby secured a-gainst tilting or twisting by enga-gement with the` insulating body 12 of the connector means 11 even though the bracket 20 is only secured by a single screw 21 to the housing 10. At the same time, the bracket 20 secures also the insulating body 12 of the connector means 11 against turning or axial displacement. In addition the capacitor 19, the bracket 20 and the insulating body 12 with its metal bars 13 or 13 form together a unit which can be easily removed by simply unscrewing the single screw 21.

4. This arrangementv thereby greatly simplifies assembly Aor disassembly of the distributor.

`It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also lfind a useful application in other types of a distributor for an internal combustion ren-gine differing from the types described above. p v I While the invention has been illustratedand described as embodied in a distributor for an internal combustion engine, itis not intended to be limited to theLdetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. i

Without kfurther analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint or prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a distributor f-or an internal combustion engine, in combination, a distributor housing` formed with an opening; interrupter means turnably carried by said housing; a plug and socket type connector means having at least two separable parts, one of which extends with a portion thereof through said opening to the exterior of said housing; first flexible conductor means linside said housing and connected at one end thereof to said interrupter means and at the other end thereof to the other part of said plug and socket type connector means; a capacitor located outside said housing; a bracket fastened to `sai-d housing at the exterior thereof and carrying said capacitor, said portion of said one part of said connector 'means being constructed and arranged to engage said bracket so as to be removably carried thereby; and at least one flexible branch conductor means. connected at one end thereof to said one part of said connector means and at the other end thereof to said capacitor.

2. In a distributor as set forth in claim 1, and including a second flexible branch conductor means connected at one end thereof to said one part of said connector means and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to the primary winding of an ignition coil.

3. In a distributor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one part lof said connector means comprises an insulating body and a metal Ibar carried by said body and having at least one free end in form of a prong projecting beyond said body into the interior of said housing, said other part of said connector means being in the form of a socket removably engaging said prong to be mechanically and electrically connected thereto.

4. In a distributor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bracket is formed with a cutout having an open end, and wherein said portionlof said one rpart of said connector means extends through said cutout of said bracket and is constructed to snugly engage said bracket at portions thereof to opposite sides of said cutout.

5. In a distributor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said insulating body has an inner portion extending throughl said opening and having a cross section substantially equal to that of said opening, said insulating body having an outer portion located at the exterior of said housing and -being formed with a pair of substantially parallel grooves respectively extending from opposite faces of said outer portion of said body into the latter, and Where'- in said bracket hasa projection formed with a cutout open at one end, said outer portion of said body extending through said cutout with Iportions of said projection to opposite sides of said cutout respectively located `in said grooves. I

6. In a distributor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said one end of said one flexible branch conductor means is fixed to said bar and said insulating `body surrounding said one end of said one flexible branch conductor means,

7. In a distributor as set forth in `claim 3, and including a second exible branch conductor means, said one end of said one flexible 4branch conductor means and one end of said second exible branch conductor means being xedly connected to said bar and said insulating body surrounding said one end of said one and said second exible branch conductor means, the other end of said second exible branch conductor means being adapted to be connected to the primary winding of an ignition coil.

8. In a distributor as set forth in claim l, wherein said plug and socket type connector means includes three separable parts, one of which extends with a portion thereof through said opening to the exterior of said housing, wherein said first flexible conductor means is connected at the other end thereof to a second part of said three separated parts of said connector means, and including a second flexible branch conductor `means connected at one end thereof to the third part of said connector means and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to the primary winding of an ignition coil.

9. In a distributor as set forth in clairn 8, wherein said one part of said three part connector means comprises an insulating body and a metal lbar lcarried by said body and having a pair of opposite free ends earch in form of a prong and respectively projecting beyond opposite ends of said body, said second and third parts of said connector means being in for-rn of sockets respectively removably engaging said prongs to being mechanically and electrically connected thereto.

10. In a distributor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said 'bracket is connected by -a single fastening means to said distributor housing and wherein said portion of said one part of said connector is constructed and arranged to engage said bracket to prevent turning of the latter about the axis of said single fastening means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,174 12/1951 Worth 339-121 3,237,619 3/1966 Kind et al. ZOO- 19 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H, BROOME, Assistant Examiner. 

